Who's bought a plane ticket before visa received?

[ninamyers 0]

Hmmmm right, this is tough... I'm planning on booking it for 10 days after the interview... Oh I don't know what to do!!

My main concern right now is that a doctor who did some minor surgery for me a few years ago was meant to fax through a letter to Knightsbridge and I've just found out that he hasn't yet... he better get his act together or the medical results won't be there when I have my interview!! Aaaahh!!

Maria

[YnaYeBa0808 0]

hello i booked an unrestricted ticket dated 8 days after my fiances interview.... im hoping i wont have to reschedule though. keeping my fingers crossed that all will be okay.

[JenT 0]

Some Embassies/Consulates will allow beneficiaries to pick up their visas instead of waiting for them to be mailed. If you're concerned about timing, I'd inquire as to that option....

Jen

[Kristin.l.m 0]

helloo,

Just wondering how many of you have made real travel arrangements before you've actually got the visa in hand? I'm going to wait until I get home after my interview (just in case...) but will be booking it before I actualy get the visa. Has anyone every heard of one getting lost?? I'm almost tempted to buy a ticket now, those cheap flights had better still be there next monday...

Maria x

We did this. Jan scheduled his departing flight from Copenhagen for 2 weeks after his embassy interview. He listed his travel plans on the paperwork he brought to the interview, and made it clear that he had a ticket in hand already. The agent at the embassy raised her eyebrows at this and referred to it as "gambling" and "presumptuous." She wasn't very nice, but in general he didn't have any problems. Despite a small glitch in his paperwork (i.e., our lawyer had instructed us to do something incorrectly), he passed the interview, picked up his passport/visa at the embassy a few days later, and was on his way shortly after that!

I'd book the ticket but make sure to allow enough time. Don't plan to depart the day after the interview or anything like that. Check on the receipt times, add a couple of days to be certain, and go from there.

[CarolineM 0]

we did.

our interview was on a wednesday, we had a ticket for that weekend - of course we did DCF and it's a bit different but we just bought a refundable ticket. IT was more expensive but we didn't care.

We also DId buy a round trip - they would'nt let us buy a one way w/o a visa issued!

[195 1]

we did.

our interview was on a wednesday, we had a ticket for that weekend - of course we did DCF and it's a bit different but we just bought a refundable ticket. IT was more expensive but we didn't care.

We also DId buy a round trip - they would'nt let us buy a one way w/o a visa issued!

Do you think it helps if you show your round-trip ticket when applying for a tourist visa to the US? It is a gamble but I've always wondered.

[JenT 0]

we did.

our interview was on a wednesday, we had a ticket for that weekend - of course we did DCF and it's a bit different but we just bought a refundable ticket. IT was more expensive but we didn't care.

We also DId buy a round trip - they would'nt let us buy a one way w/o a visa issued!

Do you think it helps if you show your round-trip ticket when applying for a tourist visa to the US? It is a gamble but I've always wondered.

You're going to buy a ticket before you have a visa? Better make sure it's refundable, just in case.

[John and Anna 0]

Used frequent flier miles and booked 30 days in advance of interview for a flight 2 weeks after interview.

[pj1959us 0]

It is a tough call. If you can easily reschedule and it isn't too expensive, then that would help your decision.

There are SO MANY things that can interfere with a smooth process that it is almost impossible to really give advice. In our case, David had booked tickets for himself, two children and arranged travel for a dog and a cat when we knew his interview date. The travel date was for just 4 days after his interview!

He got his visa the next day as planned, BUT the airline had an impending strike the day before he was scheduled to leave. Of course, that kind of issue and many others can happen regardless of when the travel date is!

I have seen various problems shown from VJ members scheduling the flight before the visa interview...the bottom line is, it's a decision that is a very rough one to make. It was one of the most stressful times of the whole process and all you can do is cross your fingers and hope it all works out for the best!

Good luck and best wishes!

[Sheriff Uling 3]

...If you can easily reschedule and it isn't too expensive, then that would help your decision...

Absolutely! We bought our ticket at a very really good price and the re-booking fee is nominal in the event that something does change. Therefore it was an easy decision to make. However, this decision is truly a judgment call like having your future spouse to quit their job(s) or sell their belongings. However, the US Embassy suggests that you hold off on any permanent or life altering changes until all actions surrounding your visa are finalized, which includes the delivery of the visa (as you already know). Cheers!!! - Sheriff Uling

[Mew 0]

Do you think it helps if you show your round-trip ticket when applying for a tourist visa to the US? It is a gamble but I've always wondered.

I'd think it's helpful at POE, but if I'm not mistaken, they advise applicants not to purchase tickets before they have the interview for their visa (immigrant or non-immigrant).

[alli 0]

I bought mine the day we received NOA2 approval!

Luckily everything has gone to schedule and I have a month up my sleeve after the interview before I actually leave.

[wileastmot 0]

I bought our ticket when we knew the interview date. I did have to reschedule the flight. His interview was on Tuesday and the flight was that Saturday. The problem was that he recieved the VISA on Tuesday not Friday like I was expecting. But I had checked on the change fee before, we booked it. It was only $60 to rebook.

Thanks

Rhonda

[sardinte 0]

I bought our ticket when we knew the interview date. I did have to reschedule the flight. His interview was on Tuesday and the flight was that Saturday. The problem was that he recieved the VISA on Tuesday not Friday like I was expecting. But I had checked on the change fee before, we booked it. It was only $60 to rebook.

Thanks

Rhonda

We booked the flight for 11 days after the interview but didn't realize there were 2 holidays. We received the packet on Monday and flew on Tuesday. Pretty stressfull.

[Nikita2Charles 31]

I booked my fiancee visa, a week after the interview so we were kinda bold i would say, but we got the passport just 2 days before we flew back together to the states.

Give a few days after the visa for safety, in case the courier don't bring the visa on time anything can happen.

Don't purchase Tickets in advance going for a tourist visa, what you can get from your travel agent is an Itenary, usually it's valid for a week, ONLY after you get the visa then you can confirmed the reservation, Even the consulate understand the situation, did it like that for my sister in law, it works perfect now she has a 10 year B2 tourist visa, she can come to see us anytime, she was there last Christmas, this year we are going to try for my father in law to come down.